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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr zora jerry <rivmarkpeter@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: western.union50@outlook.com
Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 16:48:08 +0100 (BST)
Subject: I am waiting for your call once you have picked it up.
How are you today?
   I write to inform you that we have already sent you USD5000.00 through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment of USD200,000.00 via western union by this government.
   I called to give you the information through phone as internet hackers were many but i couldn’t reach you yesterday even this morning.So,I decided to email you the MTCN and sender’s name so that you can pick up this USD5000.00 to enable us send another USD5000.00 by tomorrow as you know we will be sending you only USD5000.00 per day.
   Please pick up this information and go to any western union outlet in your country to pick up the USD5000.00 and email me back so as to send you another payment tomorrow.
 Mr Stella David
Manager Western Union,Benin Republic
 Tell: +229 68035435
 Email:western.union50@outlook.com
 Call or email me once you have picked up this USD5000.00 Here is
 the western union information to pick up the USD5000.00
Â
MTCN : 622 155 4897
 Sender’s Name: Mr Kunle Clive
 Test Question: Honest
 Test Answer:Trust
 Amount: $5000.00USD
   I am waiting for your call once you have picked it up.
   Thanks
   Mr zora jerry
   Director,Compensation Dept
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Anti-fraud resources:
